Community Partners

The cities of Hutchinson and Woodbury are selected as Community Partners of the Minnesota ENERGY STAR Challenge.

The goal of the partnership is to boost the number of buildings with ENERGY STAR certification in the state in a way that reaches a wider variety of buildings and attains a more geographically diverse portfolio of participants. Hutchinson and Woodbury are ideal partners in this projects and will serve as a model that can be replicated throughout the state.

Each of these communities has demonstrated leadership in energy and sustainability initiatives and marks the beginning of lasting partnerships that will deepen efforts to increase building energy efficiency.

Hutchinson may be Minnesota’s Manufacturing City, but Minnesota’s hometown is home to much more. The City of Hutchinson became a Community Partner in the ENERGY STAR Challenge in order to offer the businesses, churches, and housing centers that make up our city an incredible opportunity to improve their bottom lines through energy reduction and efficiency improvements. The City, in partnership with the Great Plains Institute, the U.S. Green Business Council, and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is offering technical support to track and reduce energy use. There are funds of up to $600 or 50% of costs for buildings to take the next step in their energy reduction and become ENERGY STAR certified. We hope that through this partnership we can work to improve the economic vitality of the businesses that make Hutchinson such a unique place, while solidifying our city’s place as a leader in outstate Minnesota.

Woodbury says: Reducing the energy footprint in commercial buildings offers strong a competitive advantage for owners and managers. According to the U.S. Green Building Council tenants in Green Buildings are more satisfied and are less likely to seek alternative locations. Now is the time to seek ENERGY STAR® certification! The City of Woodbury, through its partnerships with, Great Plains Institute, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Green Building Council, is offering up to $600 or a 50 percent match per building (whichever is less) for completing the certification process. Through this program, some building owners will identify opportunities for energy efficiency improvements that would lead to direct cost savings. The process is fast and easy!